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The Premiere Site For Celebrity Plastic Surgery By A Real Plastic Surgeon

I'm a Michigan-based Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has been featured on Dr. 90210. The info here is my opinion alone and should not be taken as fact or as medical advice. I've not treated any of the celebrities presented here.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

This unfortunate photo is from Star Magazine. I hope it's been photoshopped, since her nose was fine to start out with. I really like Debbie Gibson. I was a fan of hers in 9th grade, and think some of her pop songs (Only in My Dreams, Lost in Your Eyes) are pretty cool. Sometimes the nurses make fun of me because of it. Not as manly as Metallica I guess...

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Rumors continue to swirl regarding possible fat reducing treatments for Britney Spears. MakeMeHeal.com has a piece where yours truly is quoted regarding recent rumors that Ms. Spears has undergone either SmartLipo (dumb ads) or Lipodissolve treatments recently while in Las Vegas. At this point, I would say, "WHO CARES??!! Someone should get her some psychological help and keep the scalpel (or needle) away from her!"

Monday, November 26, 2007

Nikki Ziering (American Wedding, Playboy magazine) is one of the celebrities whom I met during my time in Los Angeles. She frequently came to our office for endermologie treatments with the finest cellulite reducer in town, Pamela Lee. Anyways, she was absolutely stunning in person and was always very nice. Right before I left, she gave me a stack of her magazine appearances and signed them "To the top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon," even though she never went under my scalpel.I haven't seen her in the media lately, except these photos from Hollywoodtuna.com, but I hope she is doing very well. I'd like to tell her "Thanks for being nice to a young doc from Michigan."

Saturday, November 24, 2007

I like Meg Ryan. Her roles in When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle are classics. But what the heck has happened to her lips???Her lips do appear to have undergone quite a few changes over the years. She started au naturel (1st photo), then her lips seemed to enlarge and her mouth widen (2nd photo), and fairly recently (3rd and 4th photos) it appears that things are going back towards normal (or nearly that). Here is my take (totally unsubstantiated opinion here):

She appears to have had lip implants placed, most evident in her upper lip. Back in the late 90's many plastic surgeons used Gore Tex implants to "permanently" enlarge the lips. I put "permanently" in parentheses because most patients had them eventually taken out. The problem I see with Gore Tex implants (and most lip implants in general) is that they are too firm to look like normal lip tissue. This can cause the upper lip to look unnaturally stiff. In addition, it can also make the mouth look wider because the implant doesn't allow the lip to pucker normally. This result can be exaggerated with injectables like Restylane and Collagen, which surgeons use to enhance the borders of the lips.Her lips do appear better now, possibly a result of removal of some or all of the implant, or maybe just due to laying off the additional lip injections. I like her the best before she appears to have had anything done.

Unlike what you see on many celebrities, lip enhancement doesn't always look fake. I enjoy using Juvederm at this time to enhance lips, because it's a very soft, natural-looking substance which seems to stick around for upwards of 6 months, possibly more.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some links to blogs by other plastic surgeons you may be interested in:

Plastic Surgery 101 : Dr. Rob Oliver's blog provides a nice commentary on plastic surgery and medicine in general. He covers some of the medical liability, reform, and general plastic surgery subjects which can be beyond the scope of my blog.

Truth in Cosmetic Surgery: Dr. Disaia's blog was one of the first plastic surgery blogs which didn't focus solely on promoting his practice.

John Diaz, M.D.: Dr. Diaz is a fellow Dr. 90210 alum and friend of mine. He covers plastic surgery, diet, and fitness in his blogs.

Richard Hainer, M.D.: Dr. Hainer is a well-respected Michigan-based plastic surgeon and good friend of mine. His blog covers some general plastic surgery subjects.

Kevin, M.D. Medical Blog: Dr. Kevin is not a plastic surgeon, but his blog is a good read for anyone interested in medicine and medical issues in general.

Any plastic surgeons out there: feel free to leave a comment with a link to your blog.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

This month's RADAR magazine and its online site have an article which I collaborated on, entitled "Scar Wars." They gave me photos of certain celebrities and asked me to alter their 'signature' features to look as if they've been over-operated on. Click this link to check it out. (Yes, the 'afters' are supposed to look overdone!)

Thanks to Editor-at-large Dale Hrabi for asking me to take part in this project.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Country music star Kellie Pickler was present at the American Music Awards last night. I think she looked fabulous. Very stylish, I must say. Her breasts also looked quite a bit smaller, after their sudden appearance on American Idol several months ago. They appear to have gone from a disproportionate D to a curvy C.This could be due to one of three reasons: (1) She has lost some weight, causing her breasts to become smaller, (2) Her surgeon replaced her old hefty breast implants with smaller ones, and/or (3) her implants have settled in and swelling has diminished, resulting in smaller breasts. I would bet that the changes we see in Kellie Pickler are a result of both (1) and (3). No matter what they are from, this "small town girl" looks like a big-time beauty.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Sex and the City (and Mannequin 1) Actress Kim Cattrall and American Idol judge Simon Cowell have both copped to using Botox as a way to stave off father time. According to MakeMeHeal.com, Ms. Cattrall stated,“I’m too terrified to get any proper work so I’ve had just little things done. I have a big crease between my eyebrows and I use Botox to get rid of that, but that’s kind of it.”

Simon Cowell stated something very similar recently, according to TMZ.com:What about plastic surgery? Has Cowell gone under the knife?"No, absolutely not. I have not had cosmetic surgery," he sniggers. "Yes, I've had Botox, but not in an obsessive way. Then again, every guy I know who works in the City has had it now."

In the photos above, you can see an absence of frown lines between the eyebrows and in the foreheads of both celebrities. Their plastic surgeons have done nice jobs. In other news, Nicole Kidman has finally admitted to having Botox too........just kidding.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

With all the hubbub about Dr. Donda West's plastic surgeon and his background, one important aspect of this whole tragic turn of events has failed to catch the attention of the media: Patient Confidentiality. I've always been taught that government-mandated patient privacy laws prohibit a doctor from giving out a patient's private health information to others without the consent of the patient. Only under certain circumstances are we, as physicians, allowed to release this health information to another person (usually only in emergency situations). So then... Was it lawful for the two plastic surgeons involved with this situation (Dr. Jan Adams and Dr. Andre Aboolian) to discuss Donda West's plastic surgery with the press??? Did Dr. Aboolian break the law by announcing through his publicist that he saw Donda West in consultation for plastic surgery? (click here for link)

As a physician and plastic surgeon, patient confidentiality is of extreme and upmost importance to me and my patients. The fact that these physicians are discussing the tragic details of Dr. Donda West's plastic surgery to the lay media strikes me as self-serving on both counts. With all the horrible accusations being hurled at Dr. Adams, one can see why he would talk with the media as a way to explain and protect himself (who would blame him?). As for Dr. Aboolian, what purpose does it serve (other than self-promotion and publicity) that he release Donda West's personal health information to the public the day after she tragically dies?

These are just some thoughts from an admitted 'non-expert' in patient privacy laws. Any comments would be appreciated.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

More information is coming out regarding the tragic death of Kanye West's mom after plastic surgery. According to CNN.com, Donda West underwent a breast reduction and tummy tuck on Friday, Nov 9th at the surgery center of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Jan Adams. The procedure took approximately 8 hours, after which she was sent home to recuperate. On Saturday she was found unresponsive and in respiratory distress. She was later pronounced dead at 8:28 pm at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center. An autopsy performed today was inconclusive, pending toxicology tests.

So...what happened??

Obviously I wasn't there and cannot comment exactly on the specifics of this sad case, but there are some points to consider:

1. The plastic surgeon who performed the procedure, to my knowledge, is a bona-fide plastic surgeon who underwent all of the necessary training to perform these surgeries competently. Although the internet is buzzing with reports about his past, his training at the University of Michigan and UCLA earned him board-eligibility to be a plastic surgeon (although he was not board-certified). He is not some kook ER physician posing as a plastic surgeon.

2. An 8 hour "body" procedure is a long surgery to perform on someone who is 58, but is very often performed successfully. I know of no absolute guidelines limiting the length of a surgery, as this is usually a joint decision between the plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist. In general, a healthy 58 year old should tolerate surgery well. I try to limit my surgeries to 6 hours or less, but this is just my comfort level and cannot necessarily be transferred to another surgeon.

3. Preoperative clearance is important for patients who show signs of heart disease or other illnesses. While this cannot ensure that there will be no complications, it can help prevent unforeseen risks. I routinely require preoperative clearance by a primary care physician prior to most plastic surgery procedures. There is no evidence in this case that preoperative clearance was not obtained by Dr. Adams (although he hasn't commented on this).

4. Plastic surgery is serious business. Death is a possibility with every medical procedure, from colonoscopy to plastic surgery, whether preoperative clearance is obtained or not. This is one of those things that I always pray never happens to a patient of mine, and is always a concern every time a patient undergoes anesthesia. A report in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal noted only 1 death in 51,459 plastic surgery procedures. That number is still too high for me not to get gray hairs on my head.

5. What caused her death? I can't tell you for sure, but some possibilities exist. A pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lungs) is possible, but would usually be a bit more delayed. Excessive bleeding is a possibility, and may have contributed to heart strain resulting in a heart attack. This may also be a result of massive fluid shifts after a lot of plastic surgery. This is something that could occur in this time frame.

I think the lessons for patients to take from this are:

1. Make sure to question your plastic surgeon as to whether the length of your surgery should have you consider splitting it up into two separate operations. I quite often do this with patients who want a breast lift with implants and tummy tuck.2. Get preoperative clearance by your primary care physician, especially if you are older than 40 and have medical problems.3. Make sure your surgery is performed in an accredited surgery center with a board-certified plastic surgeon.4. If you have general anesthesia and go home afterwards, make sure someone is with you at all times during your immediate recovery (first 16-36 hours) so they can call for help if needed.

For more information on choosing a plastic surgeon, click here and here.

For information on safety in plastic surgery, click here for the ASPS FAQ's.

Monday, November 12, 2007

A very sad story is being reported by several news sources. Apparently Kanye West's mother has died recently likely from complications of plastic surgery. One source is reporting that she underwent a breast reduction and liposuction and stopped breathing while at home recuperating. She was rushed to Centinela Freeman Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon has claimed to have seen Mrs. West in consultation and offered surgery after she passed a medical clearance, which was never returned to him. She may have had a thyroid condition or other problem which could affect her heart and predispose her to a heart attack. Reports are still sketchy, and an autopsy is expected to be conducted by Wednesday.

It's always a sad thing to hear of someone dying after having elective surgery. My thoughts go out to Kanye West and the rest of her family.

For more information on the death of Donda West, click here and here and here.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Former WWE Wrestler and The Surreal Life star Chyna has undergone quite a metamorphosis over the last dozen or so years. When she first arrived on the wrestling scene she was quite masculine-looking. Since then she appears to have undergone a number of plastic surgeries that have made her look more and more feminine. Some procedures she may have had include breast augmentation, chin reduction, brow reduction, lip augmentation, Botox, cheek implants, rhinoplasty, and possibly upper blepharoplasty. She looks much better than she did during her earlier years.

I won't write much more, because if I ever come across her she'd probably kick my a--.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

We're having a Holiday Open House at my office this Tuesday, Nov 13th from 4-7 pm. Stop by if you'd like to meet me and/or my staff to discuss skin care, laser treatments, chemical peels, Botox, Restylane, and surgery. There will be refreshments, food, and gift bags for everyone. We will even be holding raffle drawings for hundreds of dollars worth of prizes (sorry, no surgery!). I hope to meet you there!

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Here is a link to a website called Plastic Surgery Disasters. It has quite a few before-and-afters of celebrities and their plastic surgery. It looks like quite a few may have been lifted off the Awful Plastic Surgery website, though.

Allure Magazine has a fascinating article this month (November) written by Joan Kron on lipodissolve and other fat melting injections. The article, titled "Fat Chance," is an in depth analysis of the risks, benefits, and even unethical marketing of this controversial treatment. I have touched on mesotherapy (the generic term for fat melting injections) in this blog in the past, and must admit that I do not perform these treatments. I am, however, very interested in their possible utility once they are proven safe and effective.Some interesting points about fat melting injections:1. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts in August voted to outlaw lipodissolve treatments, except for approved drug trials. A court judge then blocked the ruling from taking effect in response to legal action from a lipodissolve chain. A trial is pending.2. It is against the law to perform lipodissolve in Canada and Brazil.3. England has prohibited advertising lipodissolve, and doctor's insurance no longer covers these procedures.4. There are some documented scientific papers which show nice improvement from fat melting injections without major side effects, but none of these have included an FDA-approved clinical trial to formally document its safety and efficacy.5. According to an online Allure article, Realself.com has found that employees from two of these fat melting clinics have bombarded their message boards and comments areas with propaganda while posing as actual patients.6. According to Allure: Essentially, lipodissolve clinics are practicing "human experimentation, due to the lack of significant data to support the claims to the consumer," says Dr. Rod Rohrich, chief of plastic surgery at the University of Texas, Southwest Medical Center.

So what do I think of fat melting injections?My take is that these controversial treatments are very intriguing and hopefully will live up to expectations. As a physician, however, my first priority is to the safety of my patients. A treatment like this needs to be proven to be safe and effective before I perform it on someone. Otherwise, it is considered human experimentation and should be explained to the patient in this way. There are too many doctors out there, however, who get blinded by greed and see this as their ticket to riches. Our patients deserve better than a non-proven treatment without proven safety, standardization of medication, or realistic expectations. Hopefully in the near future fat melting treatments will be proven safe and effective.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

The James Bond star is determined to grow old gracefully, and thinks stars who do choose to go under the knife risk looking like "freaks" when they are older.He said, "It's tricky, it really is, because no-one likes to get old and sag. People can improve themselves when they are younger, but when you're 60 or 70, you start looking like a freak. You end up looking like a lesbian big sister and that's not right!"

Monday, November 05, 2007

According to TransWorldNews, actress Nicole Kidman has denied having anything done to her face. According to the article:

The Australian actress insists her face is all natural. “To be honest, I am completely natural. I have nothing in my face or anything,” she says.So what keeps her skin looking like porcelain? “I wear sunscreen, and I don’t smoke,” she adds. “I take care of myself. And I’m very proud to say that.”

Friday, November 02, 2007

56 Year old Actress Jane Seymour has recently admitted to having plastic surgery. According to People magazine, she had a blepharoplasty over a decade ago to remove bags from her eyes ("Genetically I had baggy eyes, and photographers said they didn't want to spend money endlessly having to eradicate the bags"), breast implants (so small her plastic surgeon had to "special order them"), and Botox only once a few years ago. She stated, "I haven't had a facelift. This is what a 56 year old woman looks like - with wrinkles."

I've always liked Jane Seymour. Most women who have plastic surgery are like her. She's had a few things done to improve her outer appearance, but hasn't gone overboard nor changed the essence of how she looks. It's refreshing to see a star like her admit to well-done plastic surgery.

I hope she continues dancing right into the finale of Dancing with the Stars.Link to other post about Jane: herePhoto credit: prphotos.com

Thursday, November 01, 2007

On the latest episode of Dr. 90210, the Brady Bunch'sChristopher Knight underwent laser hair removal on his neck, between his eyes, inside his ears, and even inside his nose! While my practice offers laser hair removal, I've never seen it done to some of these weird areas. I'm not the one who normally does it though, since most of my time is spent in surgery.Come to think of it, maybe I can have my aesthetician Otilia zap the inside of my nose...

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